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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
My first British Library Crime Classic, The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay and it was just what I was looking for reading this Christmas!
Set in 1935, this classic family murder takes place when the entire Melbury family get together at their father’s house at Flaxmere for annual Christmas celebration. Sir Osmond Melbury is found dead in his study on Christmas afternoon, a bullet in his head and an open window.
Slowly the investigation reveals the little secrets and possible motives of every house member who would’ve wanted him dead and of course there’s a change of will involved!
The narration felt a little stiff but I enjoyed different character’s voices and how the author used the entire Christmas setting as an obstacle to solve the crime.
I give this one 3/5 and recommend you pick this up if you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a twist of Santa!
Set in 1935, this classic family murder takes place when the entire Melbury family get together at their father’s house at Flaxmere for annual Christmas celebration. Sir Osmond Melbury is found dead in his study on Christmas afternoon, a bullet in his head and an open window.
Slowly the investigation reveals the little secrets and possible motives of every house member who would’ve wanted him dead and of course there’s a change of will involved!
The narration felt a little stiff but I enjoyed different character’s voices and how the author used the entire Christmas setting as an obstacle to solve the crime.
I give this one 3/5 and recommend you pick this up if you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a twist of Santa!
Ich muss gestehen, noch nie einen klassischen Krimi gelesen zu haben. Und hier habe ich genau das bekommen, was ich mir darunter vorgestellt habe.
Es hatte diesen gewissen Cluedo Charakter, den viele von euch wahrscheinlich kennen.
War es Tante Mildred im Arbeitszimmer mit der Pistole? Oder doch der Butler?
Das Buch ist hauptsächlich aus der Sicht des ermittelnden Beamten Colonel Halstock erzählt. Doch besonders zu Beginn der Geschichte wird auch aus vielen anderen Perspektiven erzählt, was sich ereignet hat. Das fand ich zunächst etwas befremdlich und die ersten 100 Seiten waren auch relativ langweilig, denn hier werde nur die Geschehnisse vor dem eigentlichen Mord beschrieben. Da man aber bereits vom Klappentext her ungefähr weiß, in welcher Form der Mord stattfinden wird, wartet man die ganze Zeit gespannt darauf, dass es endlich so weit ist. Und man wartet und wartet und wartet ... ein Drittel des Buchs. Natürlich haben die hier beschriebene Ereignisse eine Relevanz für die Aufklärung des Falls. Das hat sie aber nicht unbedingt spannender gemacht.
Wie gesagt werden die anderen zwei drittel des Buchs aus der Sicht des Colonels erzählt. Dafür wurde eine Form von Bericht verwendet. Es liest sich irgendwie wie eine Mischung aus Tagebuch und Polizeibericht. Nicht Fleisch nicht Fisch. Das hat mich manchmal doch in meinem Lesefluss gestört.
Andererseits hatte ich aber immer ein sehr konkretes Bild von einem Herrn mit einem dicken, weißen Schnauzer im Kopf, der mit seiner Pfeife im Mundwinkel vor einem großen Schreitisch sitzt und handschriftlich die Ereignisse festhält.
Fazit: Das Buch war nett für zwischendurch. Es hat meine Erwartungen absolut erfüllt, wenn auch leider nicht übertroffen. Für jeden zu empfehlen, der Lust auf einen leichten und, für mein Empfinden, recht klassischen Krimi hat.
Es hatte diesen gewissen Cluedo Charakter, den viele von euch wahrscheinlich kennen.
War es Tante Mildred im Arbeitszimmer mit der Pistole? Oder doch der Butler?
Das Buch ist hauptsächlich aus der Sicht des ermittelnden Beamten Colonel Halstock erzählt. Doch besonders zu Beginn der Geschichte wird auch aus vielen anderen Perspektiven erzählt, was sich ereignet hat. Das fand ich zunächst etwas befremdlich und die ersten 100 Seiten waren auch relativ langweilig, denn hier werde nur die Geschehnisse vor dem eigentlichen Mord beschrieben. Da man aber bereits vom Klappentext her ungefähr weiß, in welcher Form der Mord stattfinden wird, wartet man die ganze Zeit gespannt darauf, dass es endlich so weit ist. Und man wartet und wartet und wartet ... ein Drittel des Buchs. Natürlich haben die hier beschriebene Ereignisse eine Relevanz für die Aufklärung des Falls. Das hat sie aber nicht unbedingt spannender gemacht.
Wie gesagt werden die anderen zwei drittel des Buchs aus der Sicht des Colonels erzählt. Dafür wurde eine Form von Bericht verwendet. Es liest sich irgendwie wie eine Mischung aus Tagebuch und Polizeibericht. Nicht Fleisch nicht Fisch. Das hat mich manchmal doch in meinem Lesefluss gestört.
Andererseits hatte ich aber immer ein sehr konkretes Bild von einem Herrn mit einem dicken, weißen Schnauzer im Kopf, der mit seiner Pfeife im Mundwinkel vor einem großen Schreitisch sitzt und handschriftlich die Ereignisse festhält.
Fazit: Das Buch war nett für zwischendurch. Es hat meine Erwartungen absolut erfüllt, wenn auch leider nicht übertroffen. Für jeden zu empfehlen, der Lust auf einen leichten und, für mein Empfinden, recht klassischen Krimi hat.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF.
Ok, so, earlier this year I read Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay, and I absolutely LOVED that one. So, I decided to pick up this one next, as I really loved the writing. However, this book is completely different, and just not for me.
The story is told much like the Moonstone by Wilkie Collines, just a lot of different perspectives, which wasn't really the issue, but I didn't expect that writingstyle.
I just realised I didn't care about the story. At all. Just completely nothing. And if I don't care about the story, why bother to force myself to finish? I got 116 pages in, so it was a fair amount, but I just don't care. Such a shame, but this one just isn't for me!
Ok, so, earlier this year I read Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay, and I absolutely LOVED that one. So, I decided to pick up this one next, as I really loved the writing. However, this book is completely different, and just not for me.
The story is told much like the Moonstone by Wilkie Collines, just a lot of different perspectives, which wasn't really the issue, but I didn't expect that writingstyle.
I just realised I didn't care about the story. At all. Just completely nothing. And if I don't care about the story, why bother to force myself to finish? I got 116 pages in, so it was a fair amount, but I just don't care. Such a shame, but this one just isn't for me!
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Well, this was strange and mostly not in a good way.
I heard about this story on the Classic Mysteries podcast and was delighted to see it was available on NetGalley. Like many of the books from this time period, it took me awhile to wade through the story, even though the premise hits a lot of my catnips.
Old English country house (check), set at Christmas (check), money-hoarding patriarch (check), family that's resentful (check). What's not to love? And I just can't put my finger on why it took me so long to finish this book. Part of it was the varying POVs. It got a bit confusing in the beginning. Especially with so many characters.
All of Sir Osmond's children have some reason to resent him. Whether it's his daughters who are threatened with marrying "suitable" men or being cut off or his sons who can't break free from his reins. Then there's the pretty new secretary and the fact that Sir Osmond is threatening to change his will. What was it that drove someone to dress up like Santa Klaus, hand out some gifts to the children, and then shoot Sir Osmond?
An intriguing mystery, especially if you like 1930s English cozies, but, again, can be plodding in points.
Old English country house (check), set at Christmas (check), money-hoarding patriarch (check), family that's resentful (check). What's not to love? And I just can't put my finger on why it took me so long to finish this book. Part of it was the varying POVs. It got a bit confusing in the beginning. Especially with so many characters.
All of Sir Osmond's children have some reason to resent him. Whether it's his daughters who are threatened with marrying "suitable" men or being cut off or his sons who can't break free from his reins. Then there's the pretty new secretary and the fact that Sir Osmond is threatening to change his will. What was it that drove someone to dress up like Santa Klaus, hand out some gifts to the children, and then shoot Sir Osmond?
An intriguing mystery, especially if you like 1930s English cozies, but, again, can be plodding in points.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very tentative three stars because while it was exactly what I wanted plot wise (cosy mystery happening in the country side), I didn't find the characters or the story memorable. Far from the brilliance of Agatha Christie which I was looking for.
https://justadreamer24.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/the-santa-klaus-murder-arc-review/
I recieved an ARC copy of this from NetGalley.
This was a pretty good book, I enjoyed it.
First and foremost I’d like to say that this book was originally written in the 1930’s so the writing style is not modern, yet modern enough that it is still easy to read.
I love the feel of this book. It reminds me of olden day England. There’s a huge house, a master of the house, the children, the father tells his kids who they can and cannot marry. All the joys of old society!
Since the cover and title obviously suggest Christmas, this is definitely a festive book. The master of the house throws a party at his estate and invites many. It is on this day that the Murder occurs!
While reading the book I had no idea who the killer was which always makes me enjoy a good mystery.
This book also had a very Agatha Christie “And then there were none” quality to it. If you like Agatha Christie I am fairly certain you will like this festive read!
I recieved an ARC copy of this from NetGalley.
This was a pretty good book, I enjoyed it.
First and foremost I’d like to say that this book was originally written in the 1930’s so the writing style is not modern, yet modern enough that it is still easy to read.
I love the feel of this book. It reminds me of olden day England. There’s a huge house, a master of the house, the children, the father tells his kids who they can and cannot marry. All the joys of old society!
Since the cover and title obviously suggest Christmas, this is definitely a festive book. The master of the house throws a party at his estate and invites many. It is on this day that the Murder occurs!
While reading the book I had no idea who the killer was which always makes me enjoy a good mystery.
This book also had a very Agatha Christie “And then there were none” quality to it. If you like Agatha Christie I am fairly certain you will like this festive read!